Woodbine: Huronia looks sharp for allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Huronia defeated a quality field of maidens with a good turn of foot Nov. 10. She’s back in action Wednesday night at Woodbine in the featured fifth race and should be favored in the Ontario-sired allowance for nonwinners of two.

Huronia, a 3-year-old trained by Stu Simon, missed the break before rushing up to contest a lively pace when she debuted Oct. 6. Understandably, she weakened in the final sixteenth, but held on for second behind a charging Sinister Spinster.

Huronia also broke about two lengths behind the field in another maiden special sprint Nov. 10. On that occasion, she raced at the rear of the field early, before rallying wide behind tepid fractions to prevail over a troubled Teresa’s Pride, who came back to romp in her next appearance. The third-place finisher, Mauna Kea, also returned to beat Ontario-sired maiden special opposition.

Gerry Olguin retains the mount on Huronia who shouldn’t mind stretching out to seven furlongs Wednesday. She is owned by Chiefswood Stable, which campaigned her sire, the recently deceased 2004 Queen’s Plate winner Niigon.

Sinister Spinster earned a big 73 Beyer Speed Figure when she defeated Huronia after closing wide from midpack in her 11th start Oct. 6. She didn’t come close to duplicating that performance in two subsequent races at this level but managed to salvage fourth most recently.

Jesse Campbell will get a leg up on Sinister Spinster from trainer Nick Nosowenko.

Ciboulette has earned just more than $70,000 this year while placing in five of nine outings for trainer Joe Walls.

Ciboulette closed strongly for second when she experimented on the grass in a seven-furlong allowance Oct. 7. Two weeks later, she finished a flat fourth behind a sharp Bear’s Gem who came back to trounce nonwinners-of-three allowance foes as the favorite. Ciboulette has had nearly six weeks off leading up to this engagement, and Tyler Pizarro will ride her again.

Yoshi Mori held off Teresa’s Pride when she graduated on the lead Oct. 21, but was ineffective racing in a stalking position in her first allowance try Nov. 11. Expect her to help set the pace under leading rider Luis Contreras.

Trainer Bob Tiller will saddle Very Dry Dancer and Tokyo Drifter.

Very Dry Dancer has competed in nine straight races at this class, with just two show finishes to her credit. She lacked room on the turn before rallying for third in one of her better efforts Nov. 11.

After graduating third time out Oct. 27, Tokyo Drifter wound up eighth behind Very Dry Dancer on Nov. 11.